Nothing to fear but fear itself? Xing the border
Trip Start
Unknown
1
5
Trip End
Ongoing
Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico
Friday, January 15, 2010
At one point we got lost in a town outside TJ, Playas, because of construction on the highway and I almost peed in my pants thinking of all the stories that people posted about worse case situations in Tijuana. But when I saw a Starbucks, I relaxed a bit, only a bit and went inside to ask for directions. The blissful bf of course was like lets go get a coffee hang out while I was thinking, ummm do you want our car stolen (rental car) ... I had noticed we were the only California license plate around AND the starbucks only soothed my trepidations a bit. Perhaps it was better if I hadn't read all those scary stories, but the person to talk to on Rosarito and the area is PStreet1 on tripadvisor - he sent me a massive amount of great information even mentioning the construction and probably getting lost in the town outside TJ, Playas. Of course I read this getting lost bit once we were lost in Playas, and was rummaging through my printouts wondering if there was something there to help us not get caught in a crossfire - but Playas was fine, I mean remember starbucks. Anyway, it was great and I am glad I didn't get scared away by all the other reviewers. I definitely wouldn't recommend Tijuana, it was scary just passing it. 
So the Mexican border control side is a flea market, literally as you drive up there are vendors on each side of the lane of cars with vendor stands. Having your windows open is a bad idea so make sure you have a/c if its the summer. And the random stuff they sell is really odd, sculptures - really? It was actually also very sad because we saw a truck of people get put in the back of a police pick up truck, saw a grandma being taken out of a trailer and escorted away and a father get out of the driver's seat, kiss his kids goodbye, walk back to TJ and let us wife drive into the US. I felt very emotional while watching that, thinking about what I've read, seen in movies and documentaries about the ordeal of trying to have a better life in the US and to have it seem so real in front of me had quite an effect, especially since I read all the articles about violence in Tijuana - there is a reason they want to leave... tear down that wall! The problem I have with the argument that foreigners take your jobs is most of the jobs they are afraid about is manual work and if you are living in the US and are an American for a few generations - shouldn't you have done better for yourself to not have to compete for a manual job with an undocumented person who can't speak English. Who's fault is that?We also went to Puerto Nuevo for Lobster which is 15-20 mins from Rosarito Beach Hotel, where we stayed. The Rosarito Beach Hotel tower was amazing, better than my current apt *cough cough* and cheaper than any other 'resort'- there was a pool on the 1st floor with two hottubs, and one on the roof...you have to call hotels to get the best deals, rather than booking online, and during the week they are vastly cheaper. We also got spa treatments, went horseback riding on the beach and walked across the pier. In San Diego, we stayed at the Pearl Hotel - good deal and went to the San Diego Zoo. We also rented from ACE Rental which was very cheap but they were going to give us a smart car until they heard we were going to Rosarito, we then got a convertible :) I was suprised by San Diego, there are many neighborhoods and its rather large.
